Day: June 26, 2024

The United Kingdom based leadership development organisation TEXEM UK has urged Nigerian executives to be resilient in their leadership responsibilities to achieve best goals in volatile economic environments. In a statement on its website, TEXEM's Director, Special Projects, Caroline Lucas expressed the need for the leaders to revitalise their organisations so as to inspire sustainable growth in a recovering economy like Nigeria. Lucas said in an era of unprecedented volatility, senior executives grapple with a myriad of challenges that necessitate innovative strategies and resilient leadership. She said that the TEXEM programme in Lagos, scheduled for July 17 and July 18, presents a transformative opportunity to invigorate Nigerian organisations and foster sustainable growth in the country's economy. The programme is titled 'Revitalise Your Organisation: Inspire Sustainable Growth In A Recovering Economy'. 'In today's interconnected and unpredictable world, resilience extends far beyond mere operationa l continuity during crises. 'True resilience embodies a company's capacity to absorb stress, recover critical functionality, and thrive in new circumstances. 'This holistic view of resilience, as a strategic advantage, enables companies to capitalize on opportunities when competitors are least prepared,' the director said. Lucas said the TEXEM programme underscores the importance of embedding resilience into all organisational functions, from finance, IT to customer service. 'Through case studies and role-playing exercises, executives will acquire practical tools to operationalise resilience and drive long-term performance. 'While resilience is essential, regeneration propels business strategy further. 'Regeneration entails making bold, proactive moves that reconnect companies with their strategic foundations,' Lucas said. She added that this approach transcends mere survival, fostering long-term value and enduring competitive advantage. 'Executives will explore how to develop business models that gen erate greater long-term value, support a culture of continuous learning and development, and leverage technology to unlock new opportunities. 'This programme will equip leaders with the skills to drive sustainable growth and adaptability in an ever-changing world. 'The future of work, characterised by rapid technological advancements, geopolitical shifts, and evolving consumer demands, requires adaptable leadership,' she said. Lucas urged leaders to leverage emerging technologies and navigate complex stakeholder landscapes with a 'learn-it-all' mindset. 'The TEXEM programme will delve into the Learning Executives Framework, helping participants develop a vision, deliver values, and master the art of persuasion. 'By fostering an environment that encourages innovation and flexibility, executives will be better prepared to win in turbulent times. 'The programme's methodology, including group discussions, self-reflection, and peer-to-peer learning, will enhance participants' ability to lead through uncertai nty and drive their organisations toward future success,' she said. Lucas asserted that by participating in this programme, executives will enhance their strategic thinking and problem-solving capabilities. 'The immersive learning experience, guided by Prof. Paul Griffith and other distinguished faculty, will challenge assumptions and stimulate innovative thinking. 'Interactive activities such as case studies, assessments, and role-playing will deepen understanding and enable the application of new concepts in real-world scenarios. 'The ultimate goal of the TEXEM programme is to equip leaders with the knowledge and skills to inspire sustainable growth and long-term prosperity,' she said. Lucas added that by fostering adaptability, amplifying purpose, and balancing short-term efficiency with long-term resilience, participants would drive their organisations toward enduring success. Source: South News Agency of Nigeria

The All Progressives Congress (APC) says it adopted e-registration to accurately determine the true number of its members nationwide. Mr Suleiman Argungu, the National Organising Secretary of the party, stated this in Abuja. This was during a courtesy visit by Mrs Ronke Soyombo, the National Director of the APC Professional Women Council. 'Between 2022 and 2023, it was claimed that our party had a certain number of registered members and supporters, which we believe is not accurate compared to the election results,' Argungu said. He noted the outcome of the presidential election as a key example, emphasising that the party has now embraced e-registration to verify its membership numbers. 'We want to be certain of what we have on the ground; we want to know the number of members in each ward, local government, and each of the 36 states of the Federation.' Argungu noted that organisations like the APC Professional Women Council would always receive encouragement from the party to enhance their efforts. H e said the visit would help the National Working Committee understand the challenges the party faces at all levels. He urged the women to mobilise for the upcoming e-registration of members. 'You mentioned that men outnumber women during primary elections, so for the primaries, you must mobilise to achieve a significant presence to ensure victory. 'I encourage you to mobilise a notable number of women that we can be proud of; our move to e-registration is driven by our past experiences,' he said. Soyombo called for greater involvement of women in the upcoming governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states. 'What we seek is for the party to include women in key committees for the Edo and Ondo governorship elections. 'We have capable members who can serve on critical committees,' she said, adding that the group also supports women at the grassroots. Source: South News Agency of Nigeria

The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, says the military will continue to operate without reservations in ensuring the safety and security of citizens. Lagbaja said this at a roundtable in Abuja organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), in collaboration with Development Specs Academy. The event is themed, 'Asymmetrical National Security Challenges, the Army and National Development'. 'The Nigerian Army in collaboration with its sister services and other security agencies will continue to operate without any reservation in ensuring the safety and security of the country for the development of all Nigerians. 'I am optimistic that this interaction will deliver practical solutions that can be easily implemented. 'I assure you of the army headquarters' engagement to a timely resolution of all insecurity issues in a manner that is favourable to the country and its citizens,' Lagbaja said. He, however, appealed to Nigerians to support the army with the needed information on susp icious persons in their communities. 'I appeal to all Nigerians to continue supporting the Nigerian army and other security agencies in their quest to bring rapid peace, which is necessary for sustainable development. 'Nigerians should continue to support the army; it is the people's army. We are working to bring about the peace and security that Nigerians yearn so much for. 'I appeal to Nigerians to support the army with information and any other form of support that will grant flexibility to the troops, to be effective in combating the enemies of the state. 'Security is a whole of society's responsibility and all stakeholders must understand each other and build trust and relationships among themselves,' he said. He added that the army would continue to work in line with the constitutional provisions to combat all enemies of the state and bring about peace and stability in the country. Also speaking, Director-General of NARC, retired Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, said the military owed Nigerians the respons ibility to combat insurgency. 'We owe ourselves the responsibility to tackle our security challenges. We must find a way of ensuring that these issues are tackled. This forum is not about fault finding but finding solutions that will improve performance by the Nigerian Army,' Wahab said. Similarly, Executive Director, Development Specs Academy, Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, decried the situation where soldiers and the military no longer get intelligence from communities in the fight against insecurity. 'Soldiers and the military have been doing a lot. But that which they are doing is misunderstood. Most communities no longer give them intelligence. So, you find the people whose job depends on the information they get from communities not helping them. 'These men are here to secure us, so we need to give them the needed information. This is our country. We need to fix it,' he said. In his presentation, the President, Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr Ike Neliaku, said that the media ought to carry out reporting and discussions on issues of insecurity with responsibility. 'When we don't take responsibility for whatever we are doing as we report our nation, we leave our nation vulnerable to the risk of assessment and perception by other nations and when that happens, our reputation will be in deficit,' he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roundtable had as strategic partnership with the Voice of Nigeria (VON), NAN and NIPR. Source: South News Agency of Nigeria

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) said on Tuesday that it has put everything on ground to surpass the achievements of the country at previous Olympics. President of NOC, Habu Gumel, said this while receiving the reports of committees on its constitution review and the refurbishment of sports infrastructure especially at Amuwo Odofin Olympic Sports Village in Lagos. Gumel said that 80 athletes had so far qualified for the Olympics while additional five athletes were expected to join the team if they eventually qualify. 'We are calling this meeting to update Nigerians on our preparation for the Olympics scheduled to hold from July 26 to August 11 in Paris and to receive the reports of two committees set up for the progress of NOC. 'On the constitution review, NOC executive committee, the board, general assembly and the International Olympic Committee will look at the report before we say this is our final constitution. 'Those outside the country are already training and sports federations like boxing, we ightlifting, wrestling and canoeing have started local trainings too. 'Some are in Germany, while some are in America; so, arrangement is on for us to achieve podium success; the Ministry of Sports Development and the NOC are collaborating seriously to achieve success in Paris. 'The last time we won two gold medals was in Atlanta, USA, in 1996, by Chioma Ajunwa, in long jump and the U-23 Dream Team, so, we are working so hard to break the jinx in Paris,' Gumel said. According to him, winning silver or bronze has never been a challenge to the country's athletes, but getting gold. This, he said, was the reason behind the robust preparation designed for Team Nigeria ahead of the Olympics. The Secretary-General of NOC, Tunde Popoola, on his part, pleaded with the Federal Government to release enough funds on time to enable the country to achieve the desired result at the Olympics. 'Our preparation is fair enough going by the understanding between the NOC and the Ministry of Sports. NOC is in charge of the O lympics and the Ministry is their partner, unlike in the past when there used to be a discretional kind of arrangement. 'But this time around, we have a strong synergy between NOC and the Ministry, and that has made a lot of things work better. 'For the athletes, they have done so well in the various international meets, breaking and creating records; the only thing we need to do now is to sustain it through positive media reports,' Popoola said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sani Garun-Gabbas, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and the Chairman of the NOC constitution review committee, had earlier said the committee gathered a lot of experience while discharging their duty in the last four months. Source: South News Agency of Nigeria

Mr Ajentekebia Harry, Country Director, Logistics Nigeria, CONTINENT AFRIQUE, a non governmental organisation, says excessive drug abuse is responsible for the increased violence and crime in Nigeria. Harry said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on the occasion of World Drug Day in Abuja, on Wednesday. NAN reports that the UN Office on Drugs and Crime commemorates World Drug Day every June 26. According to Harry, Nigerian youths are advised to jettison the attractions of drugs because of its destructive nature. 'Many of the criminal and terroristic activities you see today in Nigeria are drug induced. 'These drugs have the capacity to simulate unholy acts that can plunge the nation into chaos,' he said. CONTINENT AFRIQUE's country director, who lauded the National Drugs law Enforcement Agency for its bold fight against drugs, urged youths to embrace a more responsible living. According to him, drugs are misleading and can gradually eliminate lives of both the victim and innoce nt members of his neighbourhood. Tamuno-Ibi Harry explained that drugs were the straight way to destruction if not contained. 'Drugs do no one good, it instead, leads to death and destruction of destinies,' he said. Source: South News Agency of Nigeria

The President of Safe Water Global Initiative, Mr Francis Uzoma, has called for the reintroduction of hand washing practices in public places to curtail the spread of cholera in Nigeria. Uzoma made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja. He emphasised on the need for the practice following the continued reports of widespread of cholera outbreaks in many parts of the country. Uzoma advocated for a comprehensive multi-level government collaboration, policy implementation and behavioural change to tackle the issue. 'I think there is a need for hands-on collaboration between the federal, state, and local governments in handling this issue of cholera in our country. 'In most of our schools and public places, we need to engage in hand-washing campaigns because currently, few schools have hand-washing facilities. 'In spite of the media announcements about the outbreaks, it is unfortunate that Lagos State has lost so many precious lives. We are hopeful this will not happen again, and we expect various government agencies and responsible bodies to do more,' he said. Uzoma highlighted the importance of scaling up investments in water infrastructure, and ensuring proper allocation of funds for mini-water schemes at the local government levels. 'When there is an outbreak, most people don't have safe water; they make do with what is available. Access to water is a right according to the UN Convention on Rights to Water. 'The government should be at the forefront to ensure that citizens have access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene,' Uzoma said. He also highlighted the need to create a framework for better coordination among international NGOs, multilateral organisations, and government policies, as well as implementing digital tools to enhance water and sanitation projects. Uzoma called for the streamlining of procurement processes to expedite project implementation for the benefit of all Nigerians. He cited the National Water Resources Policy 2016, which projects that national water demand would rise to 16.585 million cubic meters yearly by 2030. According to him, this underscores the need for proactive measures to scale up access. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) reports 1,598 suspected cholera cases across 107 Local Government Areas in 30 states, with Bayelsa accounting for 50 per cent of the cases. Efforts to curb the spread of cholera include improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) practices, deploying rapid diagnostic tests, and enhancing surveillance. However, challenges such as urban slums, lack of potable water, and limited healthcare infrastructure have continued to hinder various progress. Source: South News Agency of Nigeria

The Federal Government has solicited stakeholders' collective engagement to close the literacy gaps among youths and adults in the country. The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, made the appeal at a National Stakeholders' Engagement on Achieving Youth and Adult Literacy in Abuja. The event, organised by the National Commission For Mass Literacy, Adult and Non- Formal Education (NMEC) has the theme: 'Addressing the Challenges of Data Collection, Out-of-School Children/Youths.' A report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that Yobe had the lowest literacy level of 7.23 per cent in 2017, Zamfara 19.16 per cent, Katsina 10.36 per cent and Sokoto 15.01 per cent. The report shows that Southern states were far better with Imo the highest with 96.43 per cent, Lagos 96.3 per cent, Ekiti 95.79 per cent, and Rivers 95.76 per cent. The minister, however, said that there must be an holistic approach towards improving the quality of knowledge and certificate given to the adults and non-for mal schools. 'The stakeholders engagement is to carry everybody along and get the buying in of all Nigerians. 'The way forward for us is to pay attention to education and this is not only for children but holistic in adults and non-formal education and this education must be backed with certification. 'We are trying to see how we can improve the quality of knowledge and certificate that can be given to our adults and non-formal schools. 'We also want to incorporate skills acquisition into it so that they can also have skills,' he said. Sununu added that there was the need to begin to create awareness campaign that would help parents appreciate the importance of an educated society. 'For you to have an educated children, you must have an educated family. 'There is a direct relationship of the education of the offsprings to that of the parent,' he said. The minister said that with President Bola Tinubu's attention on education advancement, low literacy level would be eradicated in the country. Accordin g to him, the president has achieved relative success in this with the return of over 2 million children back to school. Also, the Executive Secretary of NMEC, Prof. Simon Akpama, said the roadmap for the Nigerian Education Sector had provided a strategic framework to tackle illiteracy challenges head-on. Akpama urged stakeholders to harness the diverse expertise and resources to create inclusive and effective educative programmes that would enhance unhindered access to quality education. 'The population increase contributes to increasing number of out-of-school children and once parental illiteracy is high, it will contribute to increasing the number. 'We must support government in funding adequately youth and adult literacy. Except this commission is properly funded, we will continue to compound the problem of out-of-school children,' he said. The Chairman, House Committee on Alternative Education, Mr Ibrahim Mustapha, commended the political will of the President towards changing the literacy narrativ e of the country. Mustapha also expressed the commitment and support of the National Assembly in achieving an educated society. Source: South News Agency of Nigeria

Stakeholders in the security and media sectors on Tuesday in Abuja, called for social reorientation of Nigerians in tackling insecurity in the country. The experts made the call in their submissions at the end of a two-day roundtable organised by the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC) in collaboration with Development Specs Academy. The theme of the event is: 'Asymmetrical National Security Challenges, the Army and National Development'. Executive Director, Development Specs Academy (DSA), Prof. Okey Ikechukwu, said that the country had security challenges that were no longer easy to deal with following traditional methods. 'As such, there is the need for a social reorientation of citizens to divulge information on threats in their communities to security agencies. 'It is about a progressive change of social attitude about security at the level of awareness, at the level of people knowing that I should have an interest in securing myself. So I should tell persons responsible when I see danger.' He sai d that to deal with the nature of Nigeria's insecurity, it would require social reorientation, having greater partnerships with Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) and community-based organisations. 'More importantly, education and reeducation of youth leaders. If they become part of the conversation, they will be in a position to tell those who don't know what to do with themselves, we give them what to do. 'In our village, you notice a stranger, you tell the traditional ruler, they go to the police, that's what enables security agencies to operate. Cross section of participants at a two-way roundtable on 'Asymmetrical National Security Challenges, the Army and National Development' In his remarks, the Director-General of the Nigerian Army Resource Centre (NARC), Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab (Rtd), said the objective of the roundtable was to foster military-media cooperation and understanding. Represented by Maj.-Gen. James Miyam (Rtd), Wahab said the media should continuously propagate what the Nigerian Army was doing and by so doing elicit community support among Nigerian citizens. 'What came out in the roundtable table is that there is an overarching need for perception management by media managers. 'This is for them to understand and balance the need for them to carry out their responsibilities well,' has said, adil that community and citizen support was critical to the operational activities of the army. 'So, we are trying to now sensitise the entire Nigerian citizenry on the need for them to come where they have information that can enhance operational activities of the military. 'They should not shy away, they should quickly come forward and give this information,' he said. On his part, the Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr Ali Muhammad Ali, spoke on the topic 'Professional News Management as Panacea for Infodemics, Misinformation and Fake news'. He said the media globally, played a very important role in practically every aspect of life. 'In an increasingly shrinking global space m arked by exponential growth in media convergence and artificial intelligence, the dampeners of infodemics, misinformation and fake news have all but assumed lives of their own. 'This development rightly ought to be a source of concern and it is gratifying that NARC and the Development Specs Academy, have given this issue more than cursory attention,' Ali said. He said that Infodemics as defined by David Rothkopf, a journalist and political scientist, 'is a few facts, mixed with fear, speculation and rumor, amplified and relayed swiftly worldwide by modern information technologies'. Ali said that infodemics was now dominating national life where purveyors of misinformation and fake news turned little facts on their heads to achieve a predetermined end. Proffering solutions to infodemics and misinformation, the MD of NAN said that truthfulness and accuracy must be upheld. 'We must also be timely in countering misinformation. This entails striking a balance between speedily responding and the volume of inf ormation available'. For a former spokesman of the army, Brig.-Gen. Sani Kukasheka Usman (Rtd), there was the need to improve the relationship between the Nigerian Army and the public. This, he said was to have a better understanding and appreciation of the sacrifices and the efforts of the Nigerian Army in dealing with the security challenges in the country and defending its own territorial integrity. He also said that non-violence communication could be integrated in the overall communication strategy of the army in dealing with their relationship with the public. In his submission, a traditional ruler from Delta, Prof. Echefuna Onyebeadi said that in spite of the overwhelming evidence of the importance of traditional rulers in the management of national security, there existed some challenges that mitigate their proper functioning in national security. 'One of the challenges is lack of constitutional role. The constitution does not make any specific provision for the role of traditional rulers in thi s country'. While expressing sadness over 'security votes' to state governors without much results in the fight against insecurity, Onyebeadi said that if part of the votes 'trickle down to the traditional domain, it would aid national security. On the part of the NGO, Executive Director, Hedda Beautiful Hands Ltd, Hope Ayabina, suggested that the military should get involved with the activities of NGOs. 'They should teach them a skill or two; security skills preferably- that in itself, can be a tool for intelligence gathering.' Similarly, Head of Legal and Training Services at DSA, Margaret Agbo, said the key strategies and methods that could be adopted in effective grassroots intelligence gathering included community engagement. 'This is in order to establish relationships and build trust'. She also said that regular engagements with various levels of the local leadership, influencers and elders would help gain deep insights into various aspects of what held the community together. Source: South New s Agency of Nigeria